MISSION STATEMENT
FOR THE
OPTICAL HERITAGE MUSEUM
(Featuring the American Optical Collection)

"The Optical Heritage Museum is dedicated to the education and enrichment of the general public in the history, growth and contributions of 'The Eye of the Commonwealth' - Southbridge, MA. This will be accomplished  through continuing efforts to collect, maintain, preserve and display cultural, social and industrial artifacts from Southbridge and surrounding communities within the Quinebaug-Shetucket Heritage Corridor."

Museum info / Status / actions - Mar 1, 2010

Museum Display at Southbridge Hotel- May - June 2009
 

The Museums planned eventual home

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Video of the Museum in the AO Main Plant - 1997

Check here for more information on the Museum:
http://www.opticalheritagemuseum.org

The Optical HeritageMuseum Past Events
 

Dick Whitney - Curator
Donna Silverberg - Assistant Curator

The Optical Heritage Museum, Inc. Board is as follows.

The Board elected its officers:
President - Dick Whitney
Vice President - Margaret Morrissey
Treasurer - Dave Butler
Secretary - Gary Bridgman
Chair - Dave Cunniffe

Curator Emeritus - John Young
 
 

More about the AO Museum as it was prior to 2002
 

Shown below is the front of the original AO Museum Brochure, printed for the opening in 1983. This Museum was located to the right of the Marble Staircase in the AO Main Plant (now the Southridge Hotel and Conference Center). The collection is presently in storage, but plans are in the works to display Museum artifacts in the upcoming months. More to be announced soon!!!

From a 1983 Brochure handed out to all visitors

Should you have memorablia that might be of interest to add to the collection, feel free to contact me to discuss this further:

Dick Whitney : dickwhitney@charter.net

Interested in the History Antique Spectacles?
Check out this fascinating premier resource on the subject:
www.antiquespectacles.com